Starting mechanism for internal-combustion engines



Feb. 19, 1924.- 1,484,284

, 4B. ZAlKOSKl STARTING MEGHANISM'FOR INTERNAL coMBUsTIoN ENGINES Feb. 19, 1.92.4.` 1,484,284

- B. ZAlKoSKl STARTING MEcHANIsM Foa INTERNAL coMBusTIoN ENGINES Filed April 17. 1922 2 sheets-sheet 2 E d Invento;`

^ .Ld Allorney been dangerous for Patented Feb. 19, 1924.

UNITED STATES BERNARD zAIKosKI, or NEW YORK; N .YY.

Application led Apri1'17, 1922. Serial No. 553,681'.y

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, BERNARD ZAIkosni, a citizen of Russia, who has taken out his first United States citizenship papers, residing at New York city, in the county of Richmond and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Starting Mechanism for Internal-Combustion Engines, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to starting mech-anism for internal' combustion engines and aims to provide means for disconnectingthe engine from the part of the mechanism to which the starting force is applied in case the engine starts to rotate backwards.

The invention is o f particular value when used in connection with a hand turned starting crank. Starting an internal combustion engine ,with such a crank has heretofore when the initial explosion in a cylinder of the engine turns the engine backwards, the back-kick on the starting crank has often resulted in breaking the arm of the person turning the crank. With the mechanism of the present invention all danger of back-kick on the starting crank and the injury frequently resulting there-from is eliminated.

Starting mechanism involving the invention includes a normally stationary member which is so connected to a member rotating with the engine that a backwardl rotation of the engine causes a backward rotation of the normally stationary member. The initial backward turning of the normally stationary member is utilized 'to disconnect the engine from the starting crank before any material back-kick has been applied to the starting crank by the engine. A further feature of the invention consists in mechanism which utilizes a further backward turning kof the normally stationary member to disconnect this member from the engine.

In order that the invention may clearly be understood, I will describe in detail the embodiments of it which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings; in which- Fig. 1 is a plan view of the preferred embodiment of the invention; v

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the lineV 3-'3 of Fig. 1; i, Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line 4-4 of Figs. 2 and 3;

Fig. 5 is anenlarged fragmentary transverse section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is a'view similar to Fig. 4 showing a modified form of the invention. f The starting vmechanism illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 is mounted on a Xed frame having two side bars 10 and 11. The frame PATENT oEEicE. i'

is mounted near the'front end ofthe shaftA y 13 o-f the internal combustion .enginein connection with which the devicel is to be used. The force-receiving member is a vsleeve 15 journaled in a hole 16 in the bar v11. The starting force is applied to this sleeve by means of a handoperated crank V17 having fixed at its inner end a sleeve 18 whose internal cross-seetion is square and fits over a lsquared portion 19 at thejouter end of the sleeve 15.v

The force-applying member by means of which the starting force is applied to the engine shaft 13 comprises a shaft 27carrying a tooth clutch member 25 adapted to engage a similar clutch member upon the engine shaft 13. The shaft 27 is ournaled in the bar 10 and within the sleeve 15.

A driving connection is provided between the force-receiving sleeve 15 and the forceapplying shaft 27. This driving connection includesthe elements next to` be described ;-A sprocket wheel 30 is mounted on the sleeve 15 and keyed thereto. A sprocket chain 31'connect-s the sprocket wheel 30 with asprocket wheel 32 mounted on a sleeve 33 which is fixedly mounted on a stub 1shaft 34 journalled inthe bar 11 and in a sleeve 35' which is in turn journalled in the bar 10. The sprocket wheel 32 is `connected to the sleeve 33 by a. key 32 which may be made integral with the sprocket wheel and whichV projects into a keyway 33 formed in the sleeve 33. The inner e-nd of the sleeve 33 and the outer end cf the sleeve 35 are shaped to form a toothedfclutch 37 which is normally closed by a spring 38, and which serves to transmit forward rotation of the sleeve 33 to the sleeve 35'.l Onl the sleeve 33 is a cam 36 which serves to release the clutch l rotation of these elements.

37 whenit is moved youtwardly so as to compress the spring 38. The sleeve 35 may be strengthenedby a short stub shaftV 38 fixed ably mounted'on a shaft 41 fixed Vin the bars and 11. The gear 40 meshes withY a 'pinion 42 keyed on the force-applying :shaft `27. 1t is apparent that the connecting mechanism which hasv been described provides means for turning the shaft 27 in a clockwise direction and cranking the engine through the clutches 25, 26 when a force is applied tol the crank 17 to turn the sleeve 15 in a clockwise direction looking V from the front. crank 17 in this direction is hereinafter referred to as forward rotationV of these parts.V The rotation of the vother'elements of the connecting mechanism which takes place on a forward rotation of the sleeve and the shaft 27 is referred to as forward Thus, itis ap-A parent that forward rotation of thev gear wheel 40 is rotation in Van anti-clockwise direction lookin-g from the front.

An important-feature of the connecting mechanism lies inthe fact that the force receiving1sleeve15 and the .force applying shaft 17`are coaxial with each other. This makes it possible to provide a spring for normally holding the clutchvmember out of engagement with the clutch memberl 26` and to cause the engagement of these vclutch` members by pushing in axially on the crank 17. 1 For this purpose a pin or screw43V is Y secured in the outer end of the shaft 27.

1 crank 17 outwardly drawing the shaft27 This'pin has a ruiming fit in an axial hole 44 in the crank 17 and a shoulder 45 engaging the outer side of the crank. A. compression spring 46 is provided within the sleeve v18.` This spring reacts between the outer end of the sleeve 15 and the inner side' of the crank n17 and normally thruststhe outwardly and disengaging the-clutch member 25 from the clutch member 26. When force is to be applied to the crank 17 to crank the engine, the crank is also pushed in axially against the force of the spring 46. This pusheslthe shaft 27 inward Vand brings the clutchrmember 25 into engagement with the clutch member 26, so that the rotation of the shaft 27 is transferred to the engine shaftV 13. c Y

The provision of the sprocket wheels 30, 32 and the chain 31 in the connecting mechl. anism Yfacilitates varying the gear ratio and thus varying the relative rate of rotation of the force .receiving sleeve 15 and the force applying shaft 27.V This may be done by merely substituting for the' sprockets 30 and 32 similar sprockets of different relative diameter. I find it Amost desirable, however,

Rotation ofrtheshaft 27 and thev Vside of the sleeve 35.-

to make, the Asprocket 30 larger than the sprocket 32,-as illustrated, so that the shaft 27 is rotatedmore rapidly than the sleeve 15. This facilitates spinning the engine andV thusinsures starting it. 1t, of course, requiresthe application `of a greater turning force to the crank 417 than would be necessaryif the sleeve 15 and-the shaft 27 were connected so as to rotate .at the same speed. I have found, however, that the operator may easily applyV a greater force to the crank 17 in the vuse of the new starting-mech# anism than it has been heretofore customary to apply to starting cranks, because by means ofthe mechanism next to be described, the operator is insured against the 27 is turned backward by a backward turning of the engine` shaft.- This mechanism includes a member connectedto rotate with the force applying member and consequently with the engine 4shaft and a normally'sta tionary clutch Vactuating member coaxial with the rotary member. f In the form illus-k trated the rotary member of the releasing mechanism is the gear wheel -14 which, in this instance also forms a part Vof the connecting mechanism .between the v.force-receivf ing` member andl the force-applying member as already explained. The normally stationary clutch actuating member 5j() includes a hub 5,1 -turnably mounted on the shaftV 41,`

wheel 52 and most desirably made integral therewith as-shown, and a cam member 53 secured to the hub 51 by means v.of a ser screw 54. The normally stationary mem- Vber 50 is retained,againstforwardrotation,

that is, as hereinbefore explained, rotation front, by a radial stop Abar 55 projecting from the wheel52 and engaging the lower The memberOis normally held against backward rotation by a spring 56 which has one'of its ends 57 secured. in a hole 58 inthe fixed` shaft`4land its other end 59 secured to the stop bar 5,5. The spring 56 iswound around the fixed shaft 41 in such manner that its end 59 tends tocause-a forward rotation ofthe normally stationary member' 50, thus rel taining the stop bar 55 in contact with the sleeve'35. v j

Connecting means areprovided between the rotary member 40 and a normally .sta-

tionary member 50,;which's'erve'to lock these members together in case of backward .rof tation of the rotary member 40 underthe influence of aV backward turning'of the engine shaft 13. These means include a .v .1

ratchet .ring 65 secured Vto the rotarymember 40 by screws 66, anda plurality of pawls 67 pivotally mounted upon .screwsv 68 extending between the spokes 69 of the wheel 52. Springs secured to the wheel 52 nor* mally thrustvthe pawls 67 forward against the teeth of the ratchet ring 65. Theteeth of the ratchet ring 65 and the surfaces of the pawls 67 are inclined in such manner thatv the teethl pass over the pawls without engagement therewith when the rotar)r member 40 is turned forward. But when the rotary member 40 is turned backward the teeth of the ring 65 engage the ,pawls 67 and lock the rotaryfmember 40 to the normally stationary member 50. 'In order to insure an immediate locking together ot the members, Vas soon as the rotary member 4() starts to turn backward the pawls 67 are positioned about the wheel 52 in such a manner that they lie opposite different portions of the teeth of the ratchet ring 65 (see' Fig. 2).y Consequently, a backward turning or' the rotary member 4() through a distance of not more than one-quarter of the width ot a tooth of the ring 65 is always suliicient to lock one of the teeth with one of the pawls.

The cam Ymember 53 includes an arcshaped bar spaced outwardly from the 'hub 51 and providing a substantially radial surface 76 terminating` in an inclined surface 77 which is located closely adjacent to the cam 36 on the sleeve 33 when the normally stationary member 5() is in its normal position with its stop bar 55 in engagement withl the sleeve Upon a backward turning of the normally stationary memberthe surface 77 immediately engages theY cam 36 thrusting the cam and the sleeve 3301i which it ismounted outwardly against the force of the spring 38 and releasing the clutch 37 It should be noted that the release of the clutch is effected by angular movement, as distinguished from axial movement, of the normally' stationary member 50, so that the release is practically instantaneous upon the initial backward turning of the normally stationary member.

-Means are provided for disconnecting the normally stationary member 50 from the rotary member 40 in case of a continued backward turning of the rotary member L10 after the normally' stationary member has been turned backward sufficiently to cause the cam member 53 to release the clutch 37. These means include stops extending'between the spokesv 69 Vof the wheel 51 and limiting the forward movement of the pawls 67,and include also a lefthand worm 81 formed on the fixed shaft 41 Vand a nut 82 engaging the threadsof the worm 81 andsecured vto the hub 51 by the set screw 54.

Since the normally stationary member 50 1 is mounted in this'manner upon the worm 81 a continued backward turning of the normally stationary member moves it axially away from the rotary member 40, bringing the pawls 67 which are retained against the `stops 80, out of engagement with-the teeth of the ratchet ring 65. vThe surface 760i the bar 75 oi. the cam member 53 is spirally curved so as to permit this axial movement of the normally stationary member 49 while 'the surface 76 remains in engagement with the cam 36.

The use and operation of the device de-v scribed will be apparentto those skilled in' the art from the Vforegoing description.

The modification illustrated in Fig. 6 is similar to the form already described, except vthat pinions 130 and 132 are substituted for the sprocket wheels 30 and 32 and these pinions arey connected by a `gear wheel 131 rotatably mounted upon the fixed shaft 4:1, instead of by a sprocket chain. In the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 6, the pinions 130 and 131 are both the same size so that the shaft 27 rotates at the same spec as the sleeve 15. i

I wish it clearly understood that my invention is by no means limited to the speciic embodiments which have been illustrated and described, as it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes both in the form and in the location of the various elements of the mechanism may be made without departing from the principles of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A starter for internal combustion engines, comprising a'force receiving member, a forcevapplying member, a connection beclosed clutch, a rotatablememiber connected with the force applying member, a normally stationary clutch actuating member coaxial with said rotary member and arranged to release said clutch by a backward angular movement, and a. pawl and ratchet connection between said rotary member and said normally stationary member adapted to transfer backward rotation of said rotary member to said normally stationary member. y

3. Ar starter for internal combustion engines, comprising a force receiving member, va force applying member, a connection between said members including a normally closed clutch having a slidable member, .a

.ieu tween said members includinga normally rotatable member connected with the force receivingV member, a normally stationary clutchA actuatingmember coaxialV with said force receiving .member and. having a part spaced outwardly from its axis and positioned to engage the slidable member ot said lclutch and release said clutch by a backward angular "movement, Yand lmeans for connecting said rotary member with said normally stationary member on backiia-id rotation of said rotaryinember.

4. A starter for internal combustion'engines, comprising a force receiving member, a force applying member, a connection between said members includinga normally closed clutch having a slidable member, a cam connected tothe slidable member of said clutch, a rotatable meinberconnected with the vforce receivingrmember, a normally stationary clutch actuating member coaxial with said rotary member and including a cam spaced outwardly from its axis and adapted to engage the clutch cam and release the clutch on a backward angu lar movement of said normally stationary member, and means for connecting said rotary member. with said normally stationary member o-iiv a backward rotation of said normally stationary member. i

A starter toi' internal combustion engines,'compi'ising a force receiving member, a torce applying member, a connection betweensaid members including a normally closed clutch having an axially slidable element, a cani on said axially slidable inem-V ber, a rotatable-memberconnected with thel force receiving member and having its axis parallel 'to thel axis of said clutch, a normally stationary clutch actuating member coaxial Vwith saidrotary member and including .a cam having` an inclined surface adapted to engage said clutch cam and release the clutchon an initial backward angular movement of said normally stationary member and having a substantially radial surface adapted to remain in engagement with said clutch cam and retain said clutch y in open position on a urtliervbackwarrd angular movement orn said normally/'stationary member, and means for connecting said ro tary member and said normally stationary member'on a backward turning of said rotary member. Y

6i A starter for internali conibustionen-k gines, comprising aforce receiving meinber, a force applying member, a connection between said members including anormally closed clutch` a rotatable member connected with said force applying member, a normally stationary clutch actuating member coaxial with said rotary member and arranged toY release vsaid clutch by a small backward angular movement, vmeans for connecting said rotatable member `to said normally stationary memberon an initial with kbackward turning'of said rotary member,`

tween said members including a normally closed clutch, a rotatable member connected with the force applying member, a normally stationary clutch actuating member coaxial with said rotary member and arranged to release said clutch by a backward angular movement, means for Ypositively holding said vnormally stationary member against forward rotation, yieldable means normally restraining said normally stationary Vmem-y ber against backward rotation, and means adapted to connect said' rotatable 'member said normally stationary member when said'rot-ary membeiri's turned backwards. Y

8. A starter for internal combustion engines, comprising a force receiving member, a :torce applying member, a connection between said members including a normally Yclosed clutch, a rotatable member connected with the torce applyingV member, a normally stationary clutch actuating member coaxial with said rotary member and arranged to re lease said clutch by av backward angularV ber, a train 'frof'connectii'ig mechanismvbe-V coy tween said members adapted to-eause said force applying member to rotate more rapidly than said force Yreceivingmember and Vincluding a normally closed clutch, a rotata-` ble member connected with the force applying member, a normally `stationary-clutch actuating member coaxial with saidrotai'y member and arranged to'release said clutch by a backward angular movement, and means;

adapted. to connectV said rotatable member with said normally stationary memberlwhen` said rotary member is turned backwards.

10. A. starter for internal combustion engines, comprising a rotatable torce receiving member, a rotary torce applying member, a tiain of connecting mechanismbetween said members including pair of sprockets, a chain connecting said sprockets and a normally closed clutch, a rotatable member connected with the force applying member, a normally stationary clutch actuating member coaxial with said rotary member and arranged to release said clutch by a backward angular movement, and means adapted to connect said rotatable member with said normally stationary member when said rotary member is turned backwards.

11. A starter Jfor internal combustion engines, comprising a force receiving member, a force applying member, a connection between said members including a normally closed clutch and a rotatable member, a normally stationary clutch actuating member coaxial with said rotary member and arranged to release said clutch by 'a backward angular movement, and means adapted to connect said rotatable member with said. normally stationary member when said rotary member is turned backwards.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my liand inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

Y BERNARD ZAIKOSKI. lVitnesses:

A. JAREGKY, MArsm MAURUS. 

